Wood energy workshop offered in five communities

September 18, 2017

Marmian Grimes

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service will host free workshops on burning wood for heat, electricity and biochar this week in Fairbanks, Anchorage, Palmer, Sitka and Juneau.

Extension energy specialist Art Nash and Guillermo Metz of Cornell Cooperative Extension will lead the presentation from 5-9 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Cold Climate Housing Research Center in Fairbanks. Metz, the green building and renewable energy coordinator at Cornell, and retired forester Glen Holt will lead the same presentation in the other communities.

Workshops will be offered from 5-9 p.m. Sept. 22 at the BP Energy Center in Anchorage; 1-4 p.m. Sept. 23 at the Matanuska Experiment Farm in Palmer; noon to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 24 at Sitka’s Harrigan Centennial Hall; and 5-7:30 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Juneau Extension office at 450 Whittier St.

Topics will include residential wood boilers; choosing a wood stove; comparing pellets, chips and logs; greenhouse heat; biochar; wood care; and emissions and particulates. Biochar is a specially produced charcoal that is used as a soil amendment and for water filtration.

More information is available at www.uaf.edu/ces or by contacting Nash at 907-474-6366.

ADDITIONAL CONTACT: Debbie Carter, 907-474-5406 or dscarter@alaska.edu